Egypt announced the preliminary results of the investigation into incidents of shark attacks on tourists in the resort of Sahl Hasheesh near Hurghada. Experts named the main reasons for the aggression of marine predators and gave recommendations on how to prevent subsequent attacks.
MAJOR CAUSES ARE MATED SEASON AND FOOD RESIDUE
The Red Sea Protection Committee and the Hurghada Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) have released a report revealing the cause of two shark attacks in early July.
According to the eight-page document, the two deadly attacks, judging by the bite marks on the victims, were the same shark, and not a mako, but probably a tiger. The predator attacked people while they were snorkeling at the resort of Sahl Hasheesh. There is no information that the shark was found and eliminated.
According to Egyptian experts, the presence of sharks in shallow water is associated with the mating season (it lasts from mid-April to the end July). The committee added that the reason for the attack was probably food leftovers in the water, which became predator bait.
WHAT LEADS TO SHARKS ATTACK IN THE RED SEA
The report also lists the main causes of shark attacks in the Red Sea. Among them are overfishing and active use of diving and snorkeling sites, as well as human feeding of fish, as a result of which marine animals look for new places to eat in shallow water.
Experts presented a list of recommendations to be implemented in the short and long term.
In the short term, experts recommended monitoring the area where the attacks occurred, immediately stopping recreational fishing and allow snorkeling only under the supervision of licensed guides.
In the long term, it is recommended to implement a comprehensive program for the management of diving and snorkeling areas in order to save the lives of divers and preserve marine life.
Authorized experts also consider it necessary to regulate fishing in the Red Sea, including suspending commercial and recreational fishing from mid-April to the end of July.
As ATOR Vestnik previously reported, all resort hotels in the Krasnoye provinces Sea and South Sinai received a circular ordering to strengthen security and control procedures for activities related to swimming, diving and snorkeling in the coastal zone.
Thus, it is mandatory for hotels to warn guests about the ban on throwing food waste or leftover food for the purpose of feeding fish, as this leads to the accumulation of a large number of fish and can attract sharks.
Elena Myagkova